Yuri Zhirkov

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

Playing with fire.. Anzhi isn't certainly playing top level football so they can probably get quite a few replacements for cheaper price if Chelsea ask too much. I'd take 13-15 and use those funds to take Modric.

[chrismada9 1,948]

Playing with fire.. Anzhi isn't certainly playing top level football so they can probably get quite a few replacements for cheaper price if Chelsea ask too much. I'd take 13-15 and use those funds to take Modric.

I actually agree! I reckon we should get as much money for Zhirkov as we possibly can to see if we can recoup some of the money that we paid for him, so we can get Modric.

[Kostas 1,468]

Due to his numerous long injuries our squad won't miss him that much but he was a good option to have, even if only on a hypothetical level. Then again that would leave us with just one pure winger and a bunch of strikers-turned-wingers but 13m is more than most players with 16 PL starts over two seasons would get.

[SeB 1,281]

Playing with fire.. Anzhi isn't certainly playing top level football so they can probably get quite a few replacements for cheaper price if Chelsea ask too much. I'd take 13-15 and use those funds to take Modric.

No because we need Zhirkov too, if they want the player they put the money on the table it's as simple as that. We are not going to start the season without any decent right winger aren't we ?

I do not consider Malouda as a winger anymore, he has a future in a central role because his performances of this season (mainly creating chances and be part of the build up of the goals with the pass before the assist) proved he can't hold a wing as before (even if the tactical instructions for the strikers are not the same with AVB as under Carlo), he seems to be better in the axis even more that his play led him to go inside the field at numerous times every game rather than contribute the game to be deployed on the wings and aside the block.

For me this season if Zhirkov stays (but I do not dream, he's going to leave...) we HAVE to swap Malouda and Zhirkov, playing Malouda as a midfield and Zhirkov on the wing

[Kostas 1,468]

I don't really get the "Malouda's not a winger anymore" talk, he ain't Anelka ffs. It was crystal-fucking-clear last year that all our wingers had instructions from Ancelotti to tuck in, even Zhirkov did but it wasn't noted because Malouda played like three times the games Zhirkov did. Heck Sturridge and Kakuta aren't wingers but people would rather them than our two only natural wingers.

[rantdeville 195]

@kostas

You're right, it's less a matter of Malouda lacking the ability to be a pure winger than it is he most likely received orders to allow Cole to overlap and get crosses in last season. That being said, Cole filled that role more often than not, but they do have a point: in the mold of Robben, Nani, and perhaps Sanchez, Malouda doesn't provide immediate width in buildups, he simply doesn't sit on the touchline like he used to, and he certainly doesn't consistently like running at defenders and taking them on. I think thats what their getting at.

[didierforever 7,349]

selling yuri would be nothin short of stupid with the modric deal not even being in the picture... yuri is an awesome option to have in a squad and his fightin spirit has been evident more than once (remember the bolton match in 2009-2010 season)... i was nothin less than stunned wen i heard of this transfer news... i think it will be yuri and yossi's contribution in the mid which will be pivotal to our season...

[J.F. 1,484]

selling yuri would be nothin short of stupid with the modric deal not even being in the picture... yuri is an awesome option to have in a squad and his fightin spirit has been evident more than once (remember the bolton match in 2009-2010 season)... i was nothin less than stunned wen i heard of this transfer news... i think it will be yuri and yossi's contribution in the mid which will be pivotal to our season...

i don't know that, you don't know, nobody doesn't know expect Abramovich, Gourlay, AVB, etc...

[didierforever 7,349]

i don't know that, you don't know, nobody doesn't know expect Abramovich, Gourlay, AVB, etc...

even if modric does come i dont think yuri is the player that should go... he is a winger and definitely the only one who can consistently put good balls in the d(his taking the corners while malouda,drogba and lamps are on the pitch is proof enough)... plus ashley cole is not goin to play 60 odd matches (which i hope we do)... if he gets injured half way thru the season who will we play as left back(the 2009-2010 champions league situation)... yuri's versatility really deserves him a place in the squad...

[Domino- 116]

Valery Karpin admits trying to sign Yury Zhirkov, explains Emenike transfer

http://www.sports.ru/en/football/114186721.html

[Clevemayer 764]

if it wasn't posted

Chelsea ask €30m for Yury Zhirkov, Russian flies back to London

Chelsea have estimated the transfer of their Russian defender Yury Zhirkov to be worth €30 million. That is the amount the London club has been putting forward to the clubs wishing to sign Zhirkov this summer, according to Sovetsky Sport.

Yesterday's reports in the Russian media suggested that Anzhi had agreed contract terms with Zhirkov and the player had already visited the club's training ground and had got acquainted with the players and the coaches.

Meanwhile, according to Bobsoccer.ru, today Chelsea midfielder left Moscow, where he spent two days, and flew back to London.

sports.ru

[xPetrCechx 13,565]

30 MIL....

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

good to see us playing the same game everyone plays with us

[J.F. 1,484]

payback time, biaach.

[Domino- 116]

if it wasn't posted

sports.ru

This means that Zhirkov is unsaleable.

Haha 30 million, which will give so much money

[SeB 1,281]

if it wasn't posted

sports.ru

Nothing new, the article was published the 2. We know that the players were given 2 days to see their families (Gigi Salmon said that in Blues News), they arrived Sunday early in the morning and they were back on Tuesday (or yesterday I don't remember).

I totally agree with ulsterchelsea, why should we always be the fall guy ?

[termninja 5,290]

Good move. Anzhi are about to feel the charms of being rich

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We won't sell him for that much. I'd be happy them just repaying the fee we paid, that would be good business.